What Happened To Lani Garver

Reader reviewed by Sawlt to Your Suger

I'd been told to read this book more times than I could count, and when I finally got around to it a few months ago, I fell in love. Although some of the situations are rather unlikely, and the "popular" people were molded to fit a stereotype (something that the author was trying to give a bad name to in the story), I still found it emotional and think that everyone should read this book. Just a note for young ones (who probably won't take my advice, or will do the exact opposite just to spite me), its mature themes really fit a 14+ rating, rather than a 12+.

Reader reviewed by LIL GIZmo

For starters, I love this book. I finished it in one sitting, and I just fell in love with it. This book just pulls you in at the very first sentece, and it wont let you go till the last one is read. I have never read a book like this in my life, and I dont plan to find one. This book really shows what teens have to go through day after day. I fell in love with Lani Garver from when they frist introdusted him (if he was a boy). I have never felt that way about a chartecter in a book, till this one. I cry every time I read it. And it never gets old. It may not be very appropreate for every one, but I do recamaned it to anyone who loves a good book.

Reader reviewed by Jelly Bean. =)

This book was really touching, and it was really sad. I just couldn't put it down! After I read this book, I kept thinking about Lani Garver, and wondering what happened to him. It's one of those books that just makes you THINK. It is really well written.

And I really do want to know what really happened to Lani Garver.

Reader reviewed by Kris

A friend lent me this book and I fell in love with it and Lani Garver, of course.the characters are to die for and this book keeps you asking questions and i simply love that (one of my favorite shows is Lost. i wonder why...?). this book is filled with questions and a) you can read the book a million times with a pen and try to find what the author feels the answer to the major question (what happened to Lani Garver) or b) you ccan come to your decision about Lani's fate. was Lani a boy or a floating angel. if you can answer that, then you can saay what hapened to Lani Garver. the author leaves it up to the reader. and i just love that.

Reader reviewed by Crystal Hope aka Shadow Fairy

Is there a higher rating than 5 stars? Because whatever the highest rating is, this book beats even that.

"What Happened To Lani Garver" was the best book I have ever read in my life. It combines psycology with the idea of paranormal activity and real life. I've read it twice, and I cried both times. This book has inspired me to go into psycology in college. I have taken quotes from the book, my favorite being about the 1-10 scale of sexual orientation. One always echoes in my head: "Your neat little version of reality is crumbling, Claire." I love Lani, Claire, Macy, and every other character. It is so much like a real teenager's life that it's almost scary. It makes me believe in angels again.

I have never felt so wrapped up in a story. It's about losing yourself, finding yourself, making friends, and lost sanity. It is music and angels and death and fear, all in one.

Reader reviewed by wwegurl

I loved this book! It's about a boy named Lani and no one really nos how old he is and some people think hes gay and some think hes straight. And he might be an angel. A very good book. I would recommend this to everybody.It shows kindness, compassion, love, and many other great qualities!!!

Reader reviewed by artemis

What really happened to Lani Garver? Did he disappear? No one knows. No one knows if he was really a boy. This book was dark and depressing, but at times suspenseful and thought provoking. It reminds kids of the cruelty students must face at the hands of their peers who see them as different. Most times, they want to fit in. Some times not. Turns out that the lives of the kids at Hackett High School are changed forever because of Lani Garver.

Reader reviewed by Bookworm9

First off, I just want to say that I think this book should be in the 14+ age group, not the 12+. Yes, some 12-year-olds can handle it, but for the most part the language and situations of the book are quite mature. Even the book jacket had it listed as 14+.

Anyway, the story focuses on 16-year-old Claire, a popular cheerleader in a small island town (I believe it's supposed to be in NJ, but I don't think it ever says). Claire had leukemia several years ago, and missed out on middle school, so she's glad that the "in group" pulled her in. Her best friend, Macy, is pretty snarky, but she usually treats Claire well.

Then Claire meets Lani Garver, a new boy at school...or is he a boy? It's kind of hard to tell. Macy actually asks Lani if he's a girl, and he says no. But who exactly is Lani?

Macy doesn't want to find out, but Claire becomes close with him when he helps her out with a medical issue. Claire's still not sure how to label Lani-- who hates being labeled-- but she does know that he's not being accepted on the island, where he's subject to gay-bashing after it's believed he tried to come on to a popular guy. But even after tragedy strikes, Claire is unclear on exactly what happens, and who Lani is.

This was an undeniably powerful book about a topic (homophobia) that definitely needs addressing. I thought the "cool kids" were a little too stereotypical, but it can't be denied that people like that exist. The prologue of the novel was completely schmaltzy and unnecessary, and ruined the ending. I found Claire annoying, and her lack of backbone unbelievable, even considering her situation. And Lani was just too good to be true. I relize that was kind of what the author was going for, but still...

Despite these none-too-small flaws, this was an interesting story with a strong message.